A longtime Hempstead school board member was defeated in a rare revote Tuesday night.

Maribel Toure was able to defeat Betty Cross, 1,277 to 764 in the special election and was sworn in Wednesday afternoon at Hempstead Middle School.

Tuesday's election was supervised by the state attorney general's office after Toure accused Cross of falsifying absentee ballots in the original election in May.

Hempstead school board president Lamont Johnson says he has every confidence Toure will make a great addition to the board.

"She's been helpful through the years. She's a hard worker...She has shown that's she dedicated to the children," Johnson told News 12.

Betty Cross was not present at Wednesday's meeting, but her representative sent out a statement saying this election is only to finish out the current term. He says Cross plans to run again in May and is confident she will win and reclaim her seat on the board.